The National Database of fires ​in Heritage buildings 2017

“Historic buildings form the fabric of our lives: our streets, towns and cities.Most of us recognise the importance of these buildings and share the perception that, because historic buildings are important, perhaps even protected, they will always be there.Despite listed building legislation, despite policies, despite the proven high value to the local economy and the value as a statement of our individuality and quality as a destination and base for investment, still there is the steady, cumulative loss.”Nicola McVeigh, Chief Executive of Ulster Architectural Heritage.

A three-storey Grade II listed building in Newark town centre has been severely damaged by a fire.Firefighters from Newark, Collingham, Southwell and Brant Broughton tackled a blaze at a building on the corner of Barnbygate and Appletongate which broke out on the second floor at around 1am today.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue said two people were led to safety but no-one was reported to have been injured. It said the second floor was severely damaged by fire and the first floor flat was severely damaged by smoke, fire and water run-off. The ground floor, occupied by Jon Brambles Estate Agents, has been damaged by smoke and water run-off and will be closed until January 2. Firefighters used eight breathing apparatus, four hose reels and a nine-metre aerial platform ladder to tackle the blaze.Source: Newark AdvertiserUpdate: 21 June 2018 - A young father who caused a raging inferno in a Newark town centre building after starting a fire as a cry for help has been sent to a young offenders’ institution for three years.Joshua Nicholson, 19, of Carlton Road, Newark, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court after admitting arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was made the subject of a five-year restraining order not to contact his girlfriend or child except through solicitors.Source: Newark Advertiser

Crews at the scene of the fire in Barnbygate, Newark. (Photograph: Paul Stubbs)

20 December 2017 - Fire at newly-sold former college in Bradford

A former college building is on fire this afternoon, less than a fortnight after selling at auction for more than a quarter of a million pounds.

The Grade II listed Forster Community College building in Captain Street fetched £288,000 - more than twice its guide price - earlier this month.

Flames and smoke were seen from a downstairs window just before 3pm on Wednesday. A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said four fire engines from Bradford, Shipley and Odsal were called to the scene. She said it was a ground floor fire, with 15 per cent of the ground floor involved, and that a fire investigator was due at the scene to look at the cause of the blaze. Nobody was inside the building at the time and nobody has been hurt, the spokeswoman confirmed.

Mark Cowgill, a director at nearby Exa Networks, said: "It seemed to take hold really quickly. It looked pretty bad. As soon as we saw it we rang the fire brigade immediately." The school has been empty since August, when Forster Community College re-located to Little Germany.

The building dates back to 1872 when it was opened as a Cathedral School, and until the auction it was owned by the Church of England Diocese of Leeds. It is currently divided into offices, training rooms and classrooms. The identity for the site's new owners has not yet been revealed.Source: Keighley News

Fire clearly visible on the ground floor of Forster Community College building

A mill in Bradford has been badly damaged in a blaze attended by over 80 firefighters this morning. A fire was reported in a four storey Victorian mill building on Rebecca Street at 3.38am. It has been revealed this afternoon that it is being treated as a suspected arson. Half of the building, which measures 50 metres by 75 metres, was alight when fire crews arrived. Fifteen fire engines attended the scene. Five large jets and two aerial apparatus units were used while the crews attempted to control the fire. The fire started in the building's basement, which was being used to store tyres. Although the mill building has been gutted, fire crews were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring commercial properties. There have been no reports of injuries, or people in the building at the time of the fire.

The building is occupied by YA & Co Solicitors, an accountants firm and a tyre dealership. Yasmeen Akhter, who runs YA & Co and owns the mill building, told the Telegraph & Argus it had only been refurbished earlier this year. She described the fire as "devastating" and told her clients that they hoped to get up and running in alternative premises as soon as possible. However, she hoped they would be able to return to the building, depending on how badly it is damaged. The number of firefighters at the scene has now been reduced. Area Manager for Fire Safety Chris Kirby was on the scene throughout the early hours. He said: “Fire crews have dealt effectively with the fire overnight and the incident has now been scaled down to three fire engines with firefighters remaining in attendance to ensure any pockets of fire are extinguished.” Fire investigation will be on scene today and working alongside West Yorkshire Police to determine the cause of the fire. Mr Kirby added: “The economic impact of a serious fire on businesses is significant and it is rare that a business re-opens following a serious fire. Sadly the section of the mill that has been heavily involved in fire is badly damaged but due to the swift actions of crews we have managed to save a large proportion of the building and reduce the detrimental economic impact this fire could have had.” Fire crews left the scene at 5.10pm today.Source: The Telegraph and Argus

Fire at the former Victorian mill in Rebecca Street Bradford

18 December 2017 - Loch Lomond hotel fire: Two people killed in Cameron House blaze with another three hospitalised

Two people have died after a fire at a Category B listed luxury hotel near Loch Lomond, and three others are in hospital.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the five-star Cameron House hotel at about 6.40am on Monday. Police Scotland said one person died at the scene while another passed away at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. Three other people, two adults and a child believed to be from one family, were taken to hospital in Glasgow for treatment.

Officers said the hotel has been “extensively damaged”. Firefighters could also be seen tackling the blaze in the roof of the hotel from an aerial unit.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said officers were carrying out a search of the building, which has more than 130 bedrooms. Another spokesperson said: “Operations Control has mobilised a total of 12 appliances to the scene. “Firefighters are currently in the process of searching the building while fighting the fire using powerful water jets. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service remains in attendance.”Source: The Independent

Firefighters at the scene following a fire at the Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond

Update 24 December 2017: Lobby Christmas tree may have caused horror Cameron House fire that claimed two lives.

Staff at the Loch Lomond resort who first raised the alarm are understood to have told 999 operators that a 12ft-high decorated tree in the main reception area was ablaze. Two men died as a result of the inferno earlier this week.

The flames are believed to have spread up through the hotel, along cavities between the brick outer walls and wood panelled or plastered interiors.Source: The Sun

Staff are understood to have told 999 operators that the tree was ablaze

11 December 2017 - Strathmartine Hospital up in flames again after “deliberate” fireEmergency services were called to a building that was “well alight” at the derelict Category B listed, Strathmartine Hospital complex just after 9.20pm. Three fire engines were in attendance, battling the blaze for over two hours.

Police Scotland confirmed they were making enquiries following the fire, although no one has yet been arrested. Nobody was believed to have been injured during the incident.The former hospital for people with learning disabilities has been targeted by vandals and fire-raisers numerous times.

Angus Council is still assessing the extent of the damage, caused by a blaze that is believed to have been started deliberately on Monday night.

Local conservation campaigner Karen McCauley, who managed the Strathmartine Hospital Histories project, said she fears the incident could signal the death-knell for the listed building.Karen said: “From a safety perspective, it has got to the point where the building may have to be taken down to just one level. I don’t know how much longer the building will hold up. It could be on its last legs after this latest incident.”

It took firefighters more than two hours to extinguish the latest blaze and police are investigating the circumstances. The hospital was sold by NHS Tayside in May 2005 and is now owned by Heathfield Ltd.Source: The Courier

The derelict Strathmartine Hospital had already been damaged by various incidents of fire-raising. (Picture Credit: DC Thomson)

A huge fire that broke out at a historic building at the weekend is being treated as arson, the police have confirmed. Shocked Saturday night revellers watched flames shoot around 20ft in the air as a blaze destroyed the roof of the listed Wesley building, a former church and nightclub in the centre of Hartlepool. The Grade II listed building dates back to 1872.

On Monday afternoon, a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed that the force was treating the incident as arson as the property’s owners spoke out.

Property tycoon Stuart Monk, managing director of Jomast, said he hopes those responsible for the blaze are apprehended quickly as he told The Northern Echo of the shock he felt at hearing about the fire.

The building, which has been empty for several years, was in the process of being converted into a hotel by the property development firm, according to Mr Monk. Despite the blaze having destroyed 100 per cent of the roof and fourth floor, Mr Monk said that development work would continue and that he was confident the conversion project would progress.

He said the firm had owned the building for 20 years, adding: “We will now be looking to repair and replace the roof and will continue the refurbishment to convert the building into a hotel in accordance with planning consent. The building has been damaged by someone – who, we do not know, but hopefully the police are in the process of apprehending those who perpetrated this crime and hopefully they will be brought to justice. We believe it was maliciously done by persons unknown and it was a shocking incident and awful to see, but we are very grateful to the fire brigade who were able to attend and put the fire out with minimal damage. It is unfortunate that we now have to replace the roof but the main thing is that structurally there has not been much damage to the main building.” ​Mr Monk quashed rumours that suggested homeless people had been staying in the property, saying: “I’m not aware of any homeless people staying there and the building was completely secured so nobody should have been in there. “I don’t know how those responsible managed to get in there.”Source: The Northern Echo

The Wesley building on fire. Picture by Tom Collins.

8 December 2017 - The Abbey pub was a ticking time-bomb, says licensee after fire

A much-loved Derby pub in one of the city's oldest buildings has been described as a "ticking time-bomb" after a fire that could see it closed over the busy Christmas period.

Smoke began billowing from Grade II listed The Abbey, in Darley Street, Darley Abbey, at around 4.15pm on Friday, December 8. A fire crew from Nottingham Road was called out to a chimney fire and arrived at the pub at around 4.30pm. They used chimney rods to tackle the blaze. At around 5pm they requested assistance from crews from Kingsway and Duffield Road.

A firefighter at the scene said: “We believe it to be an accidental fire due to an accumulation of soot in the pub’s chimney. We are now removing panels in the pub to ensure that the fire is extinguished. Because this is a heritage building and it is near Christmas we are working as carefully as possible as to protect the building.”

Licensee Lee Jackson said: “It was about 4.15pm when there was a hell of a lot of smoke outside the building, nothing inside at first. Then a couple of the locals said that the chimney’s fan was billowing smoke. The fire guys reckon it’d been smouldering for some time. You can tell by the charring on the oak beams – it’s not something that’s suddenly happened. It’s such an old flue and it bends at 90 degrees. They’ve told us the soot lodges there and even if we had it swept once a week it wouldn’t make any difference.”

“It was a ticking time-bomb in a way. On the positive side, we’re both OK, under the circumstances. The living quarters are fine, the fire alarms work and everyone is safe. We don’t know how long we might be closed. The fire service had to knock out some brickwork to get to the fire to put it out and they’ve taken out some panelling. We’ll know more when they’ve given us their assessment and when we’ve had the maintenance team down from the brewery in Tadcaster. It may be that the downstairs bar is reopened first but we’ll have to see.”Source: Derby Telegraph

Abbey pub firefighters inspect the premises

5 December 2017 - Hotel in St Mary Street, Bridgwater, damaged by fire.​Crews from across the county were called to fight a fire at a Bridgwater hotel.Three crews from the town were initially called to the Old Vicarage in St Mary Street, at just before 8pm.

The building is Grade II listed and dates back to 1327.

The fire, which firefighters said was started accidentally, was out by around 9.25pm and no one was injured. A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said they responded to reports of smoke billowing from a room on the first floor. "Shortly after arriving and liaising with staff, crews confirmed there was a fire on the first floor and the hotel was still in the process of being evacuated," the spokesman said.

At 8.10pm, the fire service said not everyone at the hotel had been accounted for, with crews from Taunton, Burnham-on-Sea and a Command Support Unit from Street called to the incident. However, at 8.15pm, all persons were accounted for.By this time, the fire was well alight and there was concern it could spread to the roof, the fire service spokesman said.

"However, crews accessed and checked the roof voids, and other than smoke escaping up there, confirmed no further fire spread and worked well to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire, which started in one of the first floor bedrooms of the two-storey hotel, was confirmed to be accidental following fire investigation. There were no casualties and all persons were accounted for."

The room where the fire started was 100% damaged by fire, with the two further rooms involved sustaining 100% smoke damage. "Once the areas were made safe duty of care was left with hotel management," the spokesman said.​Source: Somerset County Gazette

Crews tackle fire at Bridgwater hotel

4 December 2017 - Curry house fire building may have to come down.

Fire ruined a historic mill building and two longstanding Nailsworth businesses – but its owner has vowed to rebuild it.

The blaze in the loft of Balti Nailsworth meant the roof was burnt through and that means the front of the building in the shoppers car park could fall down. But owner James Chamberlain said however bad the damage, it will be rebuilt and he wants to keep the curry house and Russells Dry Cleaning as tenants. “We are planning to rebuild it,” said Mr Chamnberlain, whose firm EA Chamberlain owns the Nailsworth Mills estate. “The front could fall down, hence the temporary barrier around it. We had a structural engineer on site before the fire service had left on Monday. Our primary concern is to keep everyone safe, then to rebuild it, however much of it will need to be rebuilt – we don’t know how much at this stage. It could be a long job but it will be rebuilt. Both businesses are very well respected in and around the town and I hope they will continue to trade there.”

He said the building is not Listed, and his insurers are assessing the claim now.In the early hours of Monday, seven fire engines from Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucester and Dursley were called to the building off George Street and in putting the flames out in the loft, the floors below suffered water damage as well.Source: Gloucestershire Live​

A Grade II thatched cottage destroyed after fire started just before 5am today A retired hotelier and his partner have been left homeless after a huge blaze tore through their £1million thatched house. Up to 80 firefighters took on the gigantic fire which broke out at the historic property in Lower Froyle near Alton in Hampshire in the early hours of this morning. Gordon Mitchell, 71, looked devastated as he stood outside the 18th century Grade II listed country home which was '100 per cent' destroyed. It is thought the fire started from a spark in the chimney.

As neighbours rallied in a bid to salvage items from the ground floor of the picture postcard cottage, Mr Mitchell, a former company director, said he was 'absolutely gutted.'Mr Mitchell said that it would take 'a very long time' to rebuild the house and that he expected his large family to rally around and look after he and his partner over Christmas. Looking into the ruined first floor from the lawn he said: 'It's all gone. Everything.'

A fire commander at the scene said that crews were making extensive searches in the property of a hugely sentimental ring which belonged to Mr Mitchell's partner and was missing among the debris. Neighbours from around the quiet country village arrived at the scene with wheelbarrows and boxes to help salvage what they could from the wreckage.​A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue service said: 'Firefighters responded to a fire in the thatched roof of a property in Froyle Lane, Alton. The roof and first floor of the detached two storey building was 100 per cent destroyed by fire and the ground floor was 100 per cent destroyed by fire, smoke and water.Source: Mail Online

Up to 80 firefighters took on the gigantic fire which broke out at the historic property in Lower Froyle near Alton in Hampshire in the early hours of this morning.

​Fire crews in Lurgan have extinguished a fire that gutted a derelict building, described by a local representative as 'very historic'.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a call at around 4.30am to attend a blaze on High Street in the Co Armagh town. It is believed the fire started after rubbish was ignited and while the fire crew arrived on the scene within minutes, the flames were already bursting through the roof.

Group commander Max Joyce said the fire developed "extremely quickly" as it started in an row of old buildings, with extremely complex layouts, plenty of dry timber and voids. He said the 33 officers, who were also assisted by the British Red Cross had put out the fire by 11am.

Upper Bann MLA Carla Lockhart paid tribute to the fire fighters, whose swift action ensured the damage was largely confined to that one building. She added that it was "most unfortunate to see the significant damage which has been caused to this very historic building".Source: ITV News

The fire, at "Westview", a Grade II listed thatched cottage in West Street, forced police to shut the road while fire crews work to extinguish the blaze.

The fire is believed to have started inside the home. Pictures taken show how the entire roof of the cottage was destroyed with half of the wooden roof beams having completely fallen through.

“Sadly, because the building has been recently re-thatched but not completed just yet, because it hadn’t been tied down and compressed, it was quite exposed and open so the fire did spread quickly,”said Group Commander Simon Newton from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.Source: Comberton Village Website

Textile mills that helped shape the history and landscape of the north of England are "rapidly being lost", said Historic England. Bradford, West Yorkshire, has seen more than 100 fires at historic mills since 2010, according to the public body. Greater Manchester has lost almost half of its mills - including 66% in Salford - since the 1980s, it said.

Historic England said it hoped the "potential of our former industrial buildings" would be recognised. The report 'Engines of Prosperity: new uses for old mills' said the buildings came to define the urban landscape across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire and were the workshop of the world.​From the late 18th Century onwards, the mills drove the industrial revolution and triggered technical innovation, new trade and transformed the transport network, said the heritage charity. But many of the buildings face uncertain futures following the 20th Century decline in textile manufacturing. Historic England also made a call to re-use 'original Northern Powerhouse' mills in West Yorkshire in 2016.

There is public support for the survival of many of the country's mills, according to Historic England which cited the 85% of respondents to its survey who said they did not want to see them demolished or replaced.​John McGoldrick, curator of Armley Mills Industrial Museum near Leeds, said there is "no catch-all answer" to preserving mill buildings. A modern use for the mill depends on the circumstances. Some have massive historical significance but you must take each on its merits. Armley Mills is a perfect spot to tell the historical story of Leeds' textile and many other trades but Holmes Mill in Clitheroe, Lancashire has been redeveloped differently as a shopping and food outlet. It's just another way to expose visitors to industrial history. We would like to protect as many buildings as we can but we are also in the real world," he said.

Historic England said it hoped the reports would galvanise owners and developers to see the potential offered by conversion instead of demolition.​Source: BBC News

Maple Mill, Oldham destroyed by fire 15 December 2016 (Credit GMFRS)

16 November 2017 - Fire at a Grade II listed restaurant in Oxford city centre caused by 'combustible waste' left outside the building.

Firefighters were called to My Sichuan restaurant, which is based in The Old School, Gloucester Green, at 7.26am today. Crews from Rewley Road, Slade Park, Kidlington attended the scene and found the waste burning at the back of the restaurant. The restaurant was not open at the time of the fire.

Crews tackled the flames using high pressure hose reels to bring the external fire under control, while firefighters wearing breathing apparatus did an internal search of neighbouring buildings to check the fire had not spread. High pressure fans were then used to clear the smoke from the restaurant.

Further investigation into the cause of the fire is being undertaken by officers from Thames Valley Police and Specialist Fire Investigators from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Station Manager Guy Dunkley said: “Commercial premises should be aware of the dangers of storing combustible materials within close proximity of buildings."Source: Oxford Mail

Fire at the back of the Oxford restaurant

16 November 2017 - Arsonists set fire to second historicCaernarfon mansion

Plas Brereton was set on fire on Thursday night...six months after Plas Ty Coch blaze.

Four crews tackled the fire in the roof space of the building. This attack follows a blaze at the neighbouring Plas Ty Coch mansion in April. The fire service has established this latest fire was started deliberately and police are investigating.

Both mansions are owned by the Burford Group and are currently on the market for £1.5m with estate agents Dafydd Hardy and GVA.Patrick Anderson, from the Burford Group, said they were very "disappointed" about the arson attack. He added: "We are securing the property again and investigating the damage caused."

The firm has secured planning permission for a hotel, restaurant and holiday let accommodation at the two sites. Burford placed the mansions on the market in April - shortly after the first blaze.

The listing also includes a lodge, boathouse, small harbour, and parkland grounds.Mr Anderson added that there has been strong occupier interest in the properties since they went on the market.​North Wales Police confirmed that inquiries are ongoing into the latest fire.​Source: Daily Post

Firefighters were dispatched to the former cinema and bingo hall on Harborne High Street, at around 7:30am this morning, to reports of a smoke coming from the building.

Steve Cheshire, of West Midlands Fire Service, said “Crews were called at approximately 7.30 this morning to reports of smoke issuing from this building. When crews arrived there was a lot of smoke in the area. They managed to make a quick entry into the building and using breathing apparatus and hose-reels managed to extinguish the fire that was on the ground floor. They stopped the fire from spreading and have done a fantastic job. At the moment, the premises is still heavily smoke-logged due to the height of the building’s inside. We’ve got fans inside trying to disperse the smoke as we speak.”

Reports from the scene indicate that the fire was approximately the size of a bonfire and confined to the ground floor. It’s also been suggested from numerous sources that it would have been a lot worse had the response not been so swift.So well done the fire service! The cause of the blaze is unknown at this stage. A full investigation will take place as soon as the building is clear of smoke.

The Grade II listed building was designed by architect Horace G Bradley in 1930.It operated as a cinema until 1963 when it was converted into a bingo hall but the building has been empty since 2012.Source: Birmingham Updates

Fire crews outside the building (Image: Elwis Kurzatkowski)

15 November 2017 - Grade II listed building suffers severe thatched roof fireWestview , a Grade II Listed building in West Street, was affected by a severe roof fire at midday Saturday November 15th. At least eight fire engines were called at 12.59pm to the home on West Street in Comberton after a passerby saw the flames.

It took 55 firefighters from various units hours to put out the blaze, which is believed to have started inside the home. Pictures taken show how the entire roof of the cottage was destroyed with half of the wooden roof beams having completely fallen through. “Sadly, because the building has been recently re-thatched but not completed just yet, because it hadn’t been tied down and compressed, it was quite exposed and open so the fire did spread quickly,” said Group Commander Simon Newton from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.Source: Comberton Village Website

Serious damage caused by the fire. (Photo by David Johnson)

11 November 2017 - Fire reduces Grade II listed property to a "shell"

A Grade II listed thatched property has been reduced to a “shell” after a fire broke out this morning.

Fire crews are still dampening down the home Clannaborough in Bow, between North Tawton and Crediton. It has been confirmed the fire started in a room upstairs and it then spread to the thatch. By the time firefighters arrived the property was already well alight.

On further inspection as the fire progressed the property was deemed to dangerous to enter because of concerns over its two supporting chimneys and high winds. However, a salvage team were able to save personal possessions from inside the property. Fire crews will continue to stay there for a number of hours to dampen it down what little is left of it.

An emergency call was made by the owner at around 5am, saying there was smoke in the kitchen and flames could be seen outside. Crews from North Tawton, Crediton, Danes Castle, Chulmleigh, Okehampton and Witheridge, together with a water carrier from Danes Castle and command support vehicle from Honiton, were quickly at the scene. The fire was found to be at one end of the property. By 6pm, more help was requested, and a four more fire engines were sent out, along with a foam tender, water carrier. By 8am, the roof and first floor were well alight, and crews had also been attempting to protect another thatched property near by with compressed air foam.

A fire spokesperson said at the time: “Due to low water pressure in the immediate area, which can not be increased due to the size of the mains water pipes, water will be shuttled in by our water carriers from hydrants further away. All crews are still in attendance with a planned relief of four fire appliances for 1000hrs. There are no casualties.”Source: Devon Live

The scene of the fire in Clannaborough in Bow

8 November 2017 Damage to historic church could have been 'a lot worse'

A Bath church damaged when arsonists set fire to a homeless person’s belongings had just had new fire alarms fitted. The United Reformed Church in Argyle Street was left with a charred door and crumbled stone work after the arson attack on Wednesday, November 8.

But the damage could have been “a lot, lot worse”, according to a church representative. Michael Burgess, chairman of the buildings committee, said the church had just spent £16,000 on a brand new set of fire alarms. The system was installed over July and August.

The church community is grateful that the arson attack happened after the new system was fitted and not before. “We’re fortunate,” Mr Burgess said.​A two-inch-thick wooden door suffered the brunt of the damage and some stone work to the left will need replacing. The Grade II listed building, which dates from 1788, also suffered some water damage from firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the fire.Source: Bath Chronicle

A thick wooden door at the entrance of the grade II-listed church bore the brunt of the damage

An investigation has been launched after an arson attack at a derelict mill. Four fire crews from Bacup, Rawtenstall and Burnley were called to Waterside Mill on Burnley Road in Bacup at around 9.15pm on Monday, November 6.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a water jet to tackle the blaze at theGrade II listed building and crews remained at the scene for about an hour. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.​Chris Howarth, Bacup fire station watch manager, said the arsonists are risking both their lives and those in the emergency services and urged them to avoid the Waterside Mill. He said: “Fire crews are urging members of the public to keep out of Waterside Mill as it is in a very poor state of repair and poses risks to anyone who enters, including the emergency services.”

30 October 2017 - Duchess’s £4,000,000 London home destroyed by fire in early hours of the morning

A £4million Grade II listed house has been gutted by fire after it ripped through the building in the early hours of this morning.

The property, owned by Duchess Nivin Saad Eldin Mohamed Elgama, set on fire earlier today. All four floors of the house have been severely damaged as a result of the fire. Fire crews from across central London rushed to the Victoria Square property which was designed by architect Sir Matthew Wyatt. Previous residents include author Ian Fleming who threw a post-premiere party at the house after the screening of From Russia With Love. MP Michael Portillo has also lived in the house before it was bought by the Duchess.

One person managed to escape the property unharmed and raised the alarm.Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring houses in the square and they said that nobody was injured.

​A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: ‘We received a called advising of a fire at 12.46am we sent four fire crews and from Chelsea,Lamberth and Soho an aerial ladder platform was also sent to the incident from Soho. ‘Crews had the blaze under control at just after 2am. ‘We are currently investigating the cause of the fire and we are likely to return at first light to continue are investigation. ‘All Four floor of the property have been severely damaged by fire the ground basement and 1st floors are totally gutted. The second and third floor are 30% damaged by fire.​Two parked cars were also damaged as a result of the fire.’Source: Metro

The Grade II listed building is badly damaged in the fire (Picture: UKNIP)

15 October 2017 - Axminster hit by two fires in quick succession

Firefighters were called to The Recycling Shop, A Grade II listed building, in Victoria Place at 9.25pm on Sunday October 15th. Only eleven minutes after this alarm, firefighters were called to a property in nearby Chard Road.

A police spokesperson said: “We are linking the two. A fire was set deliberately at The Recycling Shop. The fire was set through the letterbox. The shop doors were burned, the shop interior and stock suffered fire damage. Glass panes were also cracked in the listed building.” He added that an investigation into the cause of this fire was ongoing.Source: View News​

An arsonist was filmed on CCTV lighting a fire which caused £140,000 of damage to a second hand shop that helped him refurnish his home.​Darren Wood, 47, crept up to the "Recycling Centre" in Axminster, on 15th October 2017, put something through the letterbox and deliberately set fire to the Grade II listed building.CCTV played to the court showed a man approach the premises, crouch at the letterbox for about a minute and leave when it starts to burn.

CCTV image of the fire in Axminster.

10 October 2017 - Fire at 200 year old Rubery pub confirmed as arson.

West Midlands Fire Service have this morning confirmed that a fire which destroyed the roof of The Cock Inn yesterday was arson. Firefighters were called to the vacant and derelict The Cock Inn in Rubery Lane at just after 6pm to reports of fire in the first floor of the building. Crews from Northfield and Kings Norton tackled the blaze and a hydraulic platform was used to access the roof.

Firefighters spent several hours at the site last night and have returned to check the property this morning to verify that the incident is concluded. Northfield Station Commander Lee Baker tweeted yesterday that empty buildings pose a risk of anti-social behaviour and arson, which presents dangers for the public and firefighters.

Built in 1811, The Cock Inn has been heavily vandalised after being vacant for around three years. It is said that the RAF were billeted at The Cock Inn during WWII and operated barrage balloons at Rubery Quarry, to protect the factories in Longbridge.

Last year, Malvern Estates PLC, alongside Unique Pub Properties PLC, were refused permission to develop the former coaching inn site as part of a 12 property housing development. Developers resubmitted plans in January this year to address the council’s initial concerns regarding access onto the development and the fact that trees under a Tree Preservation Order would be affected. However, developers withdrew this application before it went before a planning committee and are expected to submit an application for an alternative site use in the near future.

Cllr Ian Cruise (Longbridge, Independent) said he was “disappointed” to learn about the fire and thanked fire crews for their speedy response. He said: “I am aware Northfield Fire Station Commander Lee Baker has been working with the owner to put in place a more secure perimeter fence and secure the property. Sadly despite this, the perimeter was breached and the building set alight.”

He added: “I’m saddened that another building of heritage in our local area has been left standing idle and open to arson and criminal damage. It is another example of another historic public house being damaged by arson instead of being refurbished or converted, rather than demolished.” Cllr Cruise urged the owners of the property to secure the site in order to prevent further incidents.Source: B31

Fire destroyed the roof of The Cock Inn.

2 October 2017 - Viewforth school fire: Police say it was deliberate

A fire at a Category C listed building in the grounds of the old Viewforth High School was started deliberately, police have confirmed. The blaze, which caused significant damage to Eastbank House, saw 18 firefighters race to the scene at tea-time on Monday. Flames shooting through the roof could be seen as far away as the Esplanade.

Police have begun an investigation into the incident and have appealed for witnesses. Detective Inspector Paul Dick of Kirkcaldy CID said: “Significant damage has been caused to this listed building and inquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible. “We are already following a number of positive lines of inquiry.” He urged people to come forward with any information.It took almost five hours to bring the blaze fully under control, the damage was clear as the smoke finally dispersed. Aerial images also showed several pockets of fire within the building which formed part of the former high school campus.

Eastbank House had been empty since Viewforth moved into its new premises in 2016, and the building was part of Kirkcaldy’s heritage. The baronial home was built around 1870 by the Earl of Rosslyn, and then bought by Henry Hutchison around 1902 before becoming part of Viewforth in 1929.It was also used as a base for teaching children with learning difficulties, as well as music classes as it acted as an overspill for the secondary school.Source: Fife Today

25 September 2017 - Charity shop Acacia in Abingdon set on fire in suspected arson attack.

A charity shop stands charred and empty after being torched in a suspected arson attack. Acacia UK in Abingdon was gutted after being engulfed by flames early yesterday morning.

The ‘heartbreaking’ incident stripped the shop and its upstairs store room of thousands of pounds worth of stock, leading the Grade II listed building to be declared unsafe. The ashen insides of the blackened Bath Street shop are visible from behind a police cordon, as officers and firefighters work to establish the cause.

Shop manager Marion Buckingham, who has been a friendly face to customers for 13 years, likened her workplace to ‘a second home’. Speaking to the Oxford Mail at the scene of the fire, with the smell of smoke still thick in the air, the Peachcroft resident said: “My little shop is ruined. All the stock has gone – the Christmas stock and Halloween stock; everything.”Emergency services were called to the fire just before 4am, hosing down the flames after establishing no-one had been injured. The charity's shops coordinator, Karen Froud, said the shop was ‘very popular’ with residents, and maintained many regular customers. She said: “We are heartbroken, for the generous people who live in Abingdon and have donated. Hopefully we will be able to claim back the value [on insurance] – we will really be relying on the support of the people of Abingdon to help us restock.”

It is thought the fire might have started outside the front door where a pile of donations had been spotted earlier. Police have appealed for witnesses. Investigating officer Sergeant Leon Astley said: “Thankfully no one was injured – but the consequences could have been extremely serious.” Source: Oxford Mail

Vandals have destroyed one of Renfrewshire’s most historic buildings. Police believe Category C listed Garthland House, in Lochwinnoch, was targeted by firebugs on Monday afternoon.

Fire crews raced to the former care home on Newton of Barr and brought the blaze under control just after 4.30pm. Following an investigation, the incident is being treated as wilful fire raising, and a full probe has now been launched to trace those involved.

Sergeant Alan Mack, who is based at Johnstone Police office, said: “After examination by the Scottish Fire Service, it is believed the building was deliberately set on fire. The building was well alight and firefighters had to use aerial appliances to bring it under control. Our CID team have been informed and enquiries are continuing. I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in and around that area on Monday afternoon, to get in touch on 101.”

Fire crews quickly tackled the blaze, which had spread on to the building’s roof. A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to reports of a fire within a derelict building near Newton of Barr, Lochwinnoch, at 4.36pm on Monday, September 18. A total of four appliances were immediately mobilised and firefighters extinguished the flames using high powered hoses. Crews left the scene after ensuring the area was made safe.”

Garthland House, which was formerly St Joseph’s Missionary College, was originally built in 1796 and was later sold to William Macdowall in 1820. The building was sold to the Mill Hill Foreign Missionary Society and became the St Joseph’s College for Missionaries between 1935 and 1985. It became St Joseph’s Nursing Home in 1985 and closed in 2004.It has been in severe disrepair ever since, with the roof falling in, with smashed windows discovered. Large portions of the building were demolished in 2014 after a Dangerous Building Notice was served on it. It is currently listed on the Buildings at risk Register for Scotland.Source: Daily Record

Gutted: The former St Joseph's Nursing Home, Garthland House Lochwinnoch

11 September 2017 - Firefighters still at the scene of Ingham Swan fire after 45 are sent to battle blaze

Two fire crews are still at the scene of a disastrous fire which has destroyed a Grade II listed local pub. At around 2am on Monday morning, fire broke out in the Ingham Swan pub on Sea Palling Road, soon spreading to the historic building’s thatched roof.

Dozens of firefighters battled the blaze, which not only tore through the top floor of the pub itself, but also the adjoining cottage and gallery.

John Baker, Norfolk Fire and Rescue’s incident commander for the scene, said: “This is now a scene of utter devastation and were it not for the quick thinking of one of the neighbours, it could have been a great deal worse. The owner of a home nearby raised the alarm at around 2am, then rushed around the surrounding area waking everybody up - because of their early actions nobody has been hurt. However, it is such a shame for both the business owners and the occupants of the cottage.” Mr Baker added that it took a colossal team effort of his firefighters to quell the flames, with crews from across the county working together at the scene.The Ingham Swan is a former coaching inn that has stood next to the parish church for 600 years. The building was constructed in the 14th Century and is the largest historic building in the village.

The owners of the cottage - who also ran the gallery - were away visiting family at the time, but have been informed. On the pub’s Facebook page it wrote: “You may have seen the sad news that we’ve had a major fire overnight. We can confirm that nobody has been injured which is a blessing but the building has suffered extensive damage.We continue to work with fire crews and the relevant authorities at this difficult time. We will keep you posted when we learn more of the situation and we will be in touch with our customers about their bookings in due course.”Tony Bell, 75 of Hickling, said: “The pub will be sorely missed - it’s such a great shame. It was my favourite place to go for lunch and was only a five minute drive from my home, so it is very upsetting. We all hope this will not be the end of the place, as they have done really well earning a good reputation over the years.”Source: Eastern Daily Press

A fire broke out overnight at The Ingham Swan pub. Picture: Christine Mcclean

4 September 2017 - Shock as Dundee church goes up in flames.

Locals looked on in astonishment last night as a derelict Category B listed Dundee church was destroyed a by a huge blaze.

Residents were evacuated from their homes as a fire raged through the roof and steeple of Lochee Old Parish Church at the junction of Bright Street and Methven Street.Eight fire vehicles rushed to the scene as dozens of folk, some children, some in pyjamas, watched in horror. A spokesman for Police Scotland said he couldn’t speculate on the cause ofthe huge blaze at, but there is a strong suggestion it was set off deliberately.Source:Evening Telegraph

Flames light up the night sky at Lochee Old Parish Church.

Update 6 September: The “devastated” developer behind plans to convert the fire-ravaged Lochee Old at St Luke’s Parish Church into flats has said construction work on the project had been about to begin. Daniel Multon, of developers Edinburgh MI, said the deadline for construction tenders had been noon on Monday, just nine hours before fire broke out in the 187-year-old kirk. But Mr Multon said those plans cannot proceed now the building has been largely destroyed by fire.​“We will be working in close collaboration with the council, local councillors and representatives of the Lochee community to find out what should be done. But the project we were about to start can’t be done. We are devastated. It had taken us a long time to get to the point where we were about to start work. We are frustrated and upset.”Source: The Courier.co.uk

28 August 2017 - Fire breaks out at former convent for the third time in a year

A large blaze took hold at St Gabriel's earlier this evening. A fire at a former convent in Woolton, which was constructed in 1829 and is a Grade II listed building, is the third to hit the building in 11 months. Fire crews were called to St Gabriel’s on Beaconsfield Road, which once housed a convent and children’s home, shortly after 4pm this afternoon. It is believed that the large blaze broke out inside a derelict building on the property.The convent has been unoccupied for around three years but after it was gutted by a huge blaze last September residents have been left uneasy by its abandonment.

Raymond Ahern, who lives on Baroncroft Road, said the residents have long worried that these incidents will increase as the years go on. He told ECHO: “It is such a shame because it is such a beautiful building and you wouldn’t like to think that these fires were set deliberately.” Residents in the area confirmed that a smaller blaze had also broken out at the convent just three weeks ago but was quickly put out and wasn’t able to spread. Beaconsfield Road was closed in both directions while firefighters attempted to tackle the fire.

At 7pm the incident was still ongoing. A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: “Firefighters are currently tackling a fire at a former convent on Church Road in Woolton, Liverpool. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service was called at 4.12pm on Monday, August 28 and crews were alerted at 4.13pm. The incident has been divided in to sectors and crews are using an aerial appliance, main jets, ladders and hose reel jets to tackle the fire and dampen down.” Emergency services said no-one had been reported injured and the cause of the fire was presently unknown.Source: Echo

St Gabriel's convent on Beaconsfield Road

5 August 2017 - Blaze at Tonedale Mill believed to have been started deliberately.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service have said that a fire in the grounds of Tonedale Mill in Wellington, was started deliberately.

The site was listed on the Heritage at Risk register in 2010. Most of the site has been​Grade II* listed. The blaze was in one of the old single-storey buildings at the edge of the site, close to Thunder Bridge.

Firefighter were called to the derelict building in the grounds of the historic mill at 7.49pm on Saturday night (August 5). Appliances from Wellington, Taunton and Wiveliscombe were mobilised to help tackle the blaze. When firefighters arrived, the crews then requested a fourth appliance as the roof was well alight. An appliance and the aerial from Taunton were mobilised, along with the water carrier from Bridgwater.

At the time, it was not known if there was anybody in the building and searching become pretty much impossible when, at 9.15pm, part of the building collapsed. Crews then stated there could possibly be casualties inside the building, so they got to work with breathing apparatus, one main jet, and one ladder to extinguish the fire. This soon increased to four crews with breathing apparatus and two more ladders on the arrival of further appliances.

At 10.15pm, the situation became more difficult when the gable end of the property collapsed. This prevented crews to check the building for persons. They requested a building control officer to attend due to the building becoming unstable. The gable end was cordoned off for safety as crews dampened down hotspots. They then checked the building with thermal imaging camera.

Tonedale Mill was once the largest woollen mill in the South West of England. It has been derelict for decades but work has now begun on converting it into a large complex of houses and flats. A party of builders, thought to be Romanian, has been living in portakabins on the Tonedale site for the past three months and carrying out preliminary work on one of the six main buildings. The 200-year-old mill has planning permission for conversion to 232 apartments. The heritage charity SAVE put Tonedale at the head of its list of most-at-risk sites earlier this year. Momentum is gathering at official level to help preserve at least some of the site, with Historic England and Taunton Deane about to jointly fund a Wellington Heritage officer to oversee the project.Source: Somerset Live

Another devastating blow for local heritage as an historic wooden barn in Manor Farm Park, built by the Cadbury family as a community resource, was totally destroyed by fire in the early hours of this morning.

West Midlands Fire Service received over sixty 999 calls and 23 firefighters attended the severe fire around 3am. West Midlands Police confirmed this morning that the fire was being treated as arson and appealed for witnesses to come forward.The ‘Cadbury’ Barn, at the entrance to Manor Farm Park in Northfield, was originally built in 1894 by local business man and philanthropist George Cadbury.

The barn was built when he and Dame Elizabeth lived at neighbouring Northfield Manor House, which was destroyed in an arson attack almost 3 years ago to the day on 30th July 2014. The Cadburys held parties for impoverished children from across the city in the barn and it was used as a base and training centre for the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War II.

In recent years, a consultation was carried out by Birmingham Conservation Trust to determine a plan for restoring the barn and adjacent buildings as a community resource once again. Following the consultation there was hope that the barn would be restored as a tearoom and facilities, with adjacent buildings also being restored for use by a charity or group.

A spokesperson for the Friends of Manor Farm Park group said, “We have been working with other stakeholders over a number of years to develop plans and secure funding to restore the Barn and associated buildings as a multi-use community resource with café and toilets, for the benefit of park users and the local community. This is therefore devastating news for the whole neighbourhood. Needless to say we are all very upset – another piece of Cadbury legacy now lost forever.”​Northfield MP Richard Burden (Labour) said, “The barn at Manor Park Farm was part of this area’s heritage. It is only a few years since fire destroyed the nearby historic Manor House so it is very sad that the Barn has now been lost to fire as well. If this was a deliberate act, I very much hope those responsible can be identified and held to account.”Source: B31

Little remains of the "Cadbury Barn"

28 July 2017 - First pictures from fire-damaged South Marston Hotel

Pictures taken today by South Marston resident show the extent of the damage to the old Victorian building and former country club. Crews were called just after 9pm last night to reports of a fire at the now derelict South Marston Hotel. Firefighters from Swindon, Stratton, Westlea, Royal Wootton Bassett, Corsham and Warminster fought the fire well into Saturday morning. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service say the fire is now under control, with crews from Westlea and Swindon damping down hot spots in the hotel.

South Marston resident Stacy Woolhouse, 47, told the Advertiser that the blaze had spread through the hotel in “minutes. I was sat watching the telly with my wife. I looked out the window and I saw black smoke.” A neighbour had already called the fire brigade by the time Stacy ran round to get a better look at the fire. “Within 11 minutes it was totally running away.” Stacy was able to take pictures of the interior of the hotel around 6am this morning. The images, taken from outside the building, show charred beams and small pockets of flame in the old ground floor rooms.

It is the second time in a week that the fire service has responded to a call in the same location. On Tuesday afternoon, firefighters responded to reports that the building was alight but on arrival they found that it was actually a controlled fire started by contractors working at the site. The former hotel was once a popular venue for weddings and conferences and its leisure facilities were used by many in the local area. It was closed in July 2016 to the surprise and disappointment of staff, many of whom had worked at the site for a number of years. Some 45 jobs were lost as a result. Just last month, the Advertiser reported that groups describing themselves as 'urban explorers' had gained entry to the buildings and filmed themselves moving around inside. The footage showed the intruders in the squash courts, reception area and leafing through staff log books. They also walked around the swimming pool which appeared to have been vandalised extensively in the 11 months since the site had closed.

South Marston residents have called on developers to restore the old Victorian building, which was once home to the village’s vicar. Petition organiser and former resident of 30 years Mark Titcombe, 33, who now lives in London, said: “The agreement with the planning authority was that it would be kept. I think that what a lot of residents want to see is a gesture of a kind from the developer to restore it.” As the buildings are not “Listed”, the powers of the planning system to prevent an action that does not involve a new use are very limited. The draft Neighbourhood Plan stated, “In the event of development of the hotel site, South Marston Hotel should be retained, if reasonably practical, given its history as the vicarage for the parish Church of St Mary Magdalen and as one of the original prestigious South Marston buildings.” Parish Council Chair, Colin McEwen, said “This highlights both the strength and weakness of the draft Neighbourhood Plan. We were not able to insist that the Club was kept open, but citing the Old Vicarage as a Heritage Building has provided evidence for it to be retained to provide a focal point amongst the proposed modern housing.”Source: Swindon Advertiser

Crews were called just after 9pm last night to reports of a fire at the derelict South Marston Hotel.

A frame from drone footage showing the devastation to the building (Credit: cashman156)

20 July 2017 - What next for Gloucester's historic Fleece after arsonists target famous building?Part of one of Gloucester’s oldest pubs could be demolished following a major fire which is being treated as suspicious by police.

The Fleece Inn, a part Grade I and part Grade II listed building which opened in Westgate Street in 1497, is believed to have been targeted by arsonists in the early hours of Thursday morning. Purchased by Gloucester City Council in 2011, the site has remained empty but plans to restore it have long been in the pipeline.

Only the charred support beams of its roof and a small number of tiles resting on them remain after the blaze and Anthony Hodge, Gloucester City Council’s head of place, said site’s safety is being assessed. He revealed £150,000 had been invested into plans to regenerate the historic former hotel which included “derisking” the building by noting materials used and creating a blueprint for future developers. Mr Hodge said: “Structural engineers are assessing the site to see if it’s safe or has to be demolished. We always hope to save our old buildings but until we have more information we can’t comment on what we’ll do next. The heritage importance is significant and it is a complicated site with listed structures and a 12 century undercroft. The complexity of the site means it is not something that will be resolved quickly but we are adopting an incremental approach about dersiking and taking the site forward.”

He added: “It’s just such a shame but it’s the nature of the world we live in and it will not dent our enthusiasm and commitment to the plans.”Source: Gloucestershire Live

The roof ablaze at The Fleece Inn.

18 July 2017 - Swiss Chalet damaged by arsonists during attack

A listed building in Avenham Park has been damaged by vandals. Avenham Park’s Swiss Chalet has a section boarded up after the incident. Arsonists struck around 10am on Tuesday 18 July and caused damage to a section of the Grade IIlisted building.

Preston City Council says it has cordoned off part of the chalet until work can be done, but the building remains open to the public as usual. Cabinet member for community and environment councillor Robert Boswell said: “Unfortunately the Swiss Chalet located in Avenham Park was set on fire recently. The back of the structure was significantly damaged and it was only the swift actions of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service which prevented further destruction. The Swiss Chalet is a listed structure and a specialist type of repair is required. In the meantime it can still be enjoyed by the public.”Source: Blog Preston

13 July 2017 - Comrades Club fire: Sad loss of important historic Blackpool building

A historic building in central Blackpool that was once home to a grammar school and an ex-servicemen's club has suffered serious damaged after a fire raged in the early hours of this morning, say fire services. More than 50 firefighters from across the county were called to the blaze which broke out at the disused Comrades Club on Adelaide Street at around 5.30am on July 13.

Nine fire engines are battling to save the building which formerly housed the Comrades Club on Adelaide Street. The Old Comrades Football Club The building has a long history and is said to be an important part of Blackpool's heritage. Blackpool Grammar School was based on the site from 1893 after and was run by Thomas Sankey who bought the house which was then called Frogmore. Although the building was perhaps best known as home of the Comrades Club which was set up in 1920 by ex-servicemen returning from the First World War.

The club provided a social meeting point for ex-servicemen for over 90 years and was so popular in the 1980s and 90s there was a waiting list to join up. The majority of the membership was made up of relatives of Second World War veterans who joined the club upon returning from active service in the 1940s. Most of the grandfathers and fathers who gave memberships to their sons and grandsons have now died, but the club’s legacy lived on through their relatives.

But dwindling numbers and years of financial losses forced the club to close its doors in 2014.Chairman of the Tim Pipe said at the time of the club's closure that the venue was losing £40,000 a year and was struggling to turn a profit after the triple blow of the smoking ban, an ageing membership and dwindling takings. Mr Pipe said: “There is just no money. From my findings the club had been taking on debt for the last 10 years. “It is part of Blackpool’s heritage. It is something which belongs to Blackpool.”Source: Blackpool Gazette

Crews battled a major fire at the club in Adelaide Street

13 July 2017 - Firefighters tackle blaze in the old Eli Lilly building

Smoke was seen coming from a Grade II listed building in Basingstoke as fire crews tackled a blaze.

Crews from Basingstoke and Tadley were called to the old Eli Lilly building off Kingsclere Road at 12.34pm, on July 13.

A fire had started on the third floor of the building, which is due to be turned into flats as part of the Chapel Gate development. Flames were put out quickly with one hose reel though the flames had heavy smoke inside the buildings which crews stayed on site to ventilate.Crews were on scene for less than an hour.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed the cause of the fire is not under investigation.Source: Basingstoke Gazette

Firefighters tackle blaze in listed building

10 July 2017 - Camden Lock market fire: large blaze brought under control.Firefighters have brought a large blaze at Camden Lock Market in north London under control.In the early hours of the morning, 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines attended the scene as flames burst from the top of the Market Hall building - next to the iconic railway bridge at the heart of the North London destination. The top three floors of the former Pickfords stables and Grade II listed horse hospital were engulfed in the blaze that took London Fire Brigade almost three hours to bring under control. The London fire brigade said on Monday morning that 10 fire engines had been dispatched to reports of a fire at the popular tourist spot after midnight. The brigade asked people to avoid the area and said the cause of the fire was not yet known. By 3.20am the brigade said the blaze was under control.Footage posted on social media showed firefighters dousing a significant fire. The blaze appears to have started in a guitar shop near the market. The Metropolitan police said: “Police were called on Monday at 12.10am to Camden Lock Market to reports of a fire. London fire brigade were already at the scene when officers arrived. It is unknown at this stage if any persons are injured, we await update.”Tim Hobern, 27, a bar manager who works near Camden market, became aware of the blaze when the fire alarm went off at Lockside Lounge. “Some of the bar staff from around the corner came running into our place saying there was a fire. We ran up the road and could see the fire in the guitar shop.” Hobern said the market was empty when the blaze broke out. “Nobody was there. The market closed around 7pm. I told my staff to get back as it’s not worth risking their lives.”Source: The Guardian

The fire is engulfing buildings at Camden Market. Picture: Twitter

3 July 2017 - Fire crews deal with blaze at Llanelli Library

Fire crews have been called to Llanelli Library following reports of smoke coming from the building.

The Library, a Grade II listed building which re-opened after extensive Carmarthenshire Council refurbishment in March 2012, and the nearby area was sealed off by police shortly after 2pm.

A Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said crews received a call at 2:02pm, with appliances from Llanelli, Tumble and Swansea involved.

They confirmed there were two sectors of the building which crews were focusing on. "In Sector One, which is the first floor, they have used one hose reel jet and one thermal imaging camera. In Sector Two, which is the roof, they have used a hose reel jet, a thermal imaging camera, a small gear and an aerial appliance on the flat roof. Crews are stripping off the covering on the roof to inspect the lower area."Source: Wales Online

20 June 2017 - Developers believe arsonists sparked blaze in former Nantwich Methodist ChurchDevelopers renovating the former Nantwich Methodist Church believe arsonists sparked the fire which ripped through the top of the building.

The blaze broke out at around 9pm in the Grade II listed building on Hospital Street where work is underway to turn the old Wesleyan chapel into luxury apartments.

Emergency services had to close off Hospital Street as they brought the fire under control.Now the boss of the main contractor, working for developers Regenesis Ltd, has revealed how they suspect arsonists as the site has been plagued by gangs of youths and vandals in recent months. Mark Mason, who runs Xtrend Ltd, said: “It’s very likely not accidental as there are no electrical or gas services at the rear of the building and we have no materials there likely to spontaneously combust. One of our team is on site, it’s very much suspected arson. I would say from teenagers and we have passed names over to the police of lads we have caught on site in the past. We have had a number of minor incidents with vandalism and teenagers climbing scaffolding and gaining entry, however, to date these have been minor. I believe a group of lads were seen running from site just before the fire started tonight. An appeal for information would be appreciated.”

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Police told Nantwichnews: “Officers were called by Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service shortly after 21:30 on Monday, 19 June to reports of a fire at a former church on Hospital Street in Nantwich. Enquiries are ongoing with Cheshire Fire to establish the cause of the fire.”

Mr Mason said they had been hoping to complete the development by early 2018. “It’s been a very challenging project in terms of its complexity,” he added. “We have 42 steel piles and 32 tonnes of steel frame in there that the apartments are constructed around… maintaining the original timber features such as horseshoe balcony, windows etc. But we were doing well and on programme.”

The building, built in the 1800s, ceased being used as a church in 2009 when the congregation moved across the road to the former School Rooms.​Source: Nantwich News

Fire can be clearly seen inside the former Nantwich Methodist Church.

16 June 2017 - Plans to demolish the Lord Line building and hydraulic tower and pump house at St Andrew's Dock, Hull following fires and vandalism.

The landmark former trawler company offices on St Andrew's Dock have been empty since the early 1970s. Hopes of re-using the building have stalled in recent years under the ownership of the Manor Property Group. The company secured planning permission to build a student accommodation campus at the dock several years ago. That scheme included converting the Lord Line into offices.

However, nothing has happened at the site since then apart from the demolition of the adjacent former Marr Fisheries building and constant vandalism, including several fires.Now, Manor has submitted two separate planning applications to demolish the Lord Line and the nearby hydraulic tower and pump house, which once provided power for the entire dock.The pump house is a Grade II listed building but has also suffered extensive vandalism in recent years.

The Lord Line is not nationally listed but has been locally listed by Hull City Council for its historic importance. Both lie in an official Conservation Area covering the old dock, which was once home to the world's largest deep water fishing fleet.

In a statement accompanying the planning application to demolish the Lord Line, Manor say: "It has been vacant for a number of years and has, notwithstanding various security measures, been the subject of numerous break-ins, fires and trespass in recent years to the extent that it is now considered dangerous to public health and safety. Further boarding up will not be effective in addressing this issue and the only realistic solution to this current state of affairs is its demolition. It is proposed to completely demolish the Lord Line Building and make good the cleared site. Planning permission is not being sought for any replacement building."The company say the pump house and its former workshops are structurally unsafe and contain asbestos. Like the Lord Line, it is proposed to knock down the buildings to create a brownfield site.

Adam Fowler, community environment officer for the City of Hull and Humber Environment Forum, said: "If these two symbolic and historic buildings are lost it will effectively render the current heritage planning controls as useless, resulting in an inevitable application by the landowner to ask for the Conversation Area status to be removed."Under planning law, the owner of any building in a Conversation Area either listed or not must seek consent to demolish. Usually a local planning authority will only give permission if a replacement scheme is prepared.

Mr Fowler has previously been involved in attempts to buy the Lord Line and bring it under public ownership. He said, "Should Hull City Council give consent to demolish these two buildings, the visible presence and reminder of Hull’s historic St Andrews Dock will be effectively erased."Source: Hull Daily Mail​

The former hydraulic tower and pump house at St Andrew's Dock

13 June 2017 - Evacuation at Babington House due to ongoing fireFire crews spent hours battling a fire at luxury hotel, Babington House on Tuesday,Crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Somerset country hotel and member's club just before 9.30am on June 13. The fire service called on Avon Fire and Rescue for assistance and crews from Bath and Radstock were sent to the scene. Guests were evacuated due to a fire which started behind a wall in the kitchen.The blaze caused all floors of the four-storey historic Grade II listed Georgian building to fill with smoke.

A spokesperson from Soho House said: "There was a fire in the Main House at Babington earlier this morning. Our evacuation procedures all went well, nobody was hurt and the damage to the House is only superficial. We’ll be back up and running shortly, and we’re now working to make sure all our guests are looked after, everyone has been contacted and we’re providing alternative bedrooms in the local area."

Babington House is a favourite venue among celebs such including Millie Mackintosh and Eddie Redmayne. Millie Mackintosh married her now ex-husband, rapper Professor Green there in 2013.The manor house which is less than 20 miles from Bristol has hosted large number of celebrity weddings including James Corden who married Julia Carey there in 2012.Source: Bristol Post

Fire crews at Babington House (Image: @TheBathMatt via Twitter)

2 June 2017 - Firefighters are battling a blaze at a listed former hospital site.

Dozens of firefighters are battling a blaze at former hospital in Denbigh. The fire was reported at 3.04am on June 2 at North Wales Hospital and has caused severe damage to the Grade II listed building. According to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) part of the roof has already collapsed and the building is unsafe.​The large operation involves seven appliances, one aerial ladder platform and more than 40 firefighters from Denbigh , Ruthin, Rhyl, Holywell, Abergele, Cerigydrudion and Mold.

The North Wales Hospital, which was also known as Denbigh Asylum, was designed by architect Thomas Fulljames with building starting in 1844. Over the years thousands of people with psychiatric illnesses were housed.​The site has been the target of arsonists numerous times in recent years, with police having to step up patrols. Most recently it was set on fire in February and firefighters spent four hours battling the flames.

According to Councillor Gwyneth Kensler, who is the county council representative for Denbigh Central, something has to be done about the building. He said: “The hospital site is a magnet for visitors and people who want to explore and of course it is half term at the moment too so lots of children are on holiday. We still don’t know how it has started and if it was deliberate. Something has got to be done but it is very difficult when it is still in ownership of an off-shore company. Denbigh members will be having a meeting on Monday to discuss the situation. We do have a compulsory purchase order on the site but what can be done I’m not sure especially in light of the financial situation. With all the cuts and austerity from central Government funds are tight. We are cutting staff, staff are leaving and not being replaced. We have many listed buildings in Denbighshire but the hospital takes up so much time it is almost a job on its own.”Source: Wales Online

The scale of devastation to the wing of the Old Denbigh Asylum. Picture: L.I.S Aerial Photography

30 May 2017 - Fire rips through former residential home on southside destroying it

A blaze ripped through a former residential home on Queen Mary Avenue in Crosshill last night (Tuesday, May 30) razing it to the ground. The fire started around 8pm, and forced nearby residents to evacuate their homes into the street while firefighters tackled the blaze for over two hours.

Scottish Fire and Rescue were able to prevent the fire from spreading into adjacent properties and nearby woodland with reports suggesting no one was harmed in the incident. The Category B listed building was formerly a residential rehabilitation unit, providing treatment for people with alcohol and drug addictions. Since closing several years ago it has lain derelict, and was regarded as a bit of an eyesore locally.

The property, recently purchased by the Muslim Welfare House in 2015, was subject to ambitious conversion and extension plans which were reportedly valued at over £1m.Planning permission was submitted to Glasgow City Council in April 2016 to turn the former nursing home into a residential institution housing 14 apartments. In addition, the charity had plans to erect a five-storey extension. That application was withdrawn however due to local opposition in the area. A number of residents had fears over health and safety issues, availability of parking, and the amount of people who would be accommodated at the residency. According to the Muslim Welfare House’s website, the charity aims to care for the Muslim community by providing educational, social and welfare services.

Police Scotland has declined to comment on the incident while investigations are ongoing into the causes of the blaze. A local resident who watched the drama unfold said: “I was sleeping with the window open last Sunday evening when I could hear banging and glass smashing. I phoned the Police at five past three in the morning. They then got in touch the following morning to say that they have apprehended the burglars. Unfortunately officers did not secure the building following the break-in and they left the door open - it was an open invitation for people to enter. Kids have been going in and out over the past two days as a result. Then of course, someone set the building alight on Tuesday evening. It looked like it may have been kids who set fire to the building, as there were some who were even filming firefighters.Source: The Extra

A fire has destroyed the building. (Picture credit Daniel Morrow)

17 May 2017 – Catastrophic damage following latest Strathmartine Hospital fire.Parts of Strathmartine Hospital, Dundee, collapsed into charred rubble last night as fire broke out for the second time in just four weeks.

Investigations will now begin into the cause of the latest fire. It is not yet known whether it was deliberately started, but previous incidents have seen firebugs break into buildings intent on arson.

Firefighters battled for around three hours to extinguish the fire, but by the time it was controlled the damage was already catastrophic. It was at around 7pm that four crews were scrambled to the hospital site, where numerous individual buildings have been targeted by fireraisers in recent years.

They struggled to keep the blaze from spreading and had to constantly change the position of aerial ladders to dampen down “hotspots”. Though the fire was extinguished shortly before 10pm, crews remained for some time to ensure that it did not spark back to life. They will return today to assess the damage, check once again for hotspots and begin investigations.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “We were called out to reports of a fire at Strathmartine Hospital and found a significant brick and timber structure well alight.“There was a full collapse of the roof and the first floor was completely destroyed.”

The main building is Category B listed, and the site also includes a number of pavilion ward blocks from the 1930s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Source: The Courier

The roof of the Strathmartine Hospital well alight again. (Picture Credit: Ron Cathro)

11 May 2017 - Fire at Broadford Works

Firefighters have been called to tackle a blaze at Broadford Works in Aberdeen. The alarm was raised at around 10.25am. Two fire engines are currently at the scene. Nine firefighters were called to the tackle the blaze, which started in a skip. Two jets and a hose reel jet were used to extinguish the flames. Police sealed off Maberly Street between Skene Square and Charlotte Street. The fire was out by 11.15am, though crews are still dampening down the area.

The Grade A listed building has suffered numerous fires, including a serious blaze in 2015. It was built in 1808 and holds the accolade of being the fourth oldest iron framed building in the world and the oldest in Scotland. The works are known to generations of Aberdonians for their use in the textile manufacturing industry until it closed in 2004.Source: Evening Express

An investigation has been launched after a 'suspicious' fire started in an disused office building in Preston, say fire services. Crews from Preston were called by police to the Old Docks House on Watery Lane at just after 4am this morning. Firefighters discovered a flood in the basement and a small fire in the Grade II listed building.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "We were called to the Old Docks House early this morning by the police. Crews found a flood in the basement and a small fire in an office. Four firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using hose-reels and ventilation fans. The fire is believed to be suspicious. Nobody was injured during the incident and an investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched.Source: Lancashire Post

Crews were called to the Old Docks House in the early hours of the morning (Pic: Googlemaps)

6 May 2017 - Fire destroys Tyneside landmark church

A huge fire, visible from miles away, has gutted a Victorian seaside church, a local landmark in Whitley Bay on the north-east England coast.

The fire in the redbrick Trinity United Reformed Church was reported at 8.25pm on Saturday night and had destroyed the roof and interior of the building within hours. Residents told the Chronicle newspaper the building was occasionally used by rough sleepers but was empty.

At the height of the fire, surrounding roads were closed and neighbouring houses and a guest house were evacuated. A refuge centre for those affected was set up in a nearby church hall, as the Tyne and Wear fire service fought to control the blaze. Although the main fire was out by midnight, the ruins were still smoking on Sunday morning and part of the esplanade remained closed all day while engineers examined the charred shell of the building to check that the walls were stable.

Emergency services described the fire as “suspicious” and a 56-year-old man was arrested on Sunday morning. Det Insp Jane Fairlamb said: “The fire was successfully extinguished overnight but a number of people have been housed in temporary accommodation while we carry out some further structural investigations. We want to thank all those affected for their patience whilst we dealt with the incident and also thank everyone who supported the emergency services who responded to the incident last night. A full investigation into the cause of the fire is under way and we are now appealing for anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area to get in touch.”​Source: The Guardian

The remains of Trinity United Reformed Church.

1 May 2017 - Second blaze at landmark Whitby Magpie Café restaurant

A famous fish and chip restaurant in Whitby has suffered two fires in 24 hours.

The first blaze at the Magpie Café on Pier Street took six hours to put out after flames engulfed the roof on Saturday night. A second fire broke out at about 15:30 BST but has since been brought under control.The first is thought to have broken out in the top floor men's toilets. It is not yet clear what caused the second. No-one was hurt in either incident and the restaurant is expected to close for several weeks.

Its owner, Ian Robson, earlier told the BBC it had been "a long night". "We don't really know what started it, just that there was smoke in the gents' toilets on the top floor," he added.

The building is Grade II listed and is said to date back to 1750 when it was a Merchants House. It was used as a shipping office and by whaling crews before being converted into a café in 1939.

The famed restaurant has been reviewed by food critics and chefs, including Jay Rayner and Rick Stein. A fire service spokesperson said an investigation is under way into the cause of the fire.

Update: 6 December 2017 - It’s been seven months since two fires severely damaged the famous Magpie Café in Whitby but owners are hoping to reopen this month after a £450,000 restoration project completes in the next few days. The harbour side restaurant, famed for its fish and chip dinners, was devastated by two fires within 24 hours of each other over the bank holiday weekend in May. They are believed to have been caused by a build-up of grease within extract flues concealed within masonry chimney stacks.Source: BBC News

A major blaze at a former Wigan cultural landmark is being investigated as arson. Firefighters were called to the vast site of Eckersley Mills just before 1.30pm on Sunday. A gang of youths was spotted fleeing the scene shortly before, authorities have said. Crews from Wigan, Hindley and Skelmersdale tackled the flames in an abandoned building for around three hours and were able to prevent it spreading further. A fire service spokesman told Wigan Today: "There's no way it could have started without it being deliberate.The fire is thought to have been started in a roof space with waste materials from the site set alight.

Eckersley Mills is the borough's largest collection of Victorian mill buildings, along with several office blocks and a gatehouse, they built between 1884 and 1900 by AH Stott for Farington Eckersley & Co. Ltd. Many of the buildings are Grade II Listed. They have long been subject to grand planning applications to convert it into a cultural hub. Three of its industrial units were destroyed in a fire in July 2012 and the latest blaze follows a similar pattern to that of another abandoned mill building at the Pagefield site, close to Mesnes Park, which has also been a regular scene of deliberate fires. The fire spokesman added: "They've gained access to the site, because it's so vast it's not that secure, and used some waste materials to start the fire. It has spread into the roof but our officers have worked really hard to bring it under control. It's similar to Pagefield in that these fires are not only putting those who start them at risk but they're really difficult for our officers to tackle." Police officers attended and are treating it as arson, a caretaker for the site saw some kids running out (shortly before the fire was reported)."Parts of the site are still occupied and (the fire) could have spread to them." Crews left the scene shortly after 4.30pm.Source: Wigan Today

A major blaze at a former Wigan cultural landmark is being investigated as arson.

20 April 2017 - Trellick Tower flat blaze sees 200 people evacuatedA woman and two children managed to escape from a 27th-floor flat in London after a blaze broke out.

Up to 200 people were evacuated from the block in Kensal Town after the fire took hold just before 21:30 BST. Eight fire crews were sent to the Trellick Tower flat, in Golborne Road, which was completely ablaze.

There have been no reports of any injuries, London Fire Brigade said. The fire is thought to have been started by a discarded cigarette.

Trellick Tower is a Grade II listed building. It was designed by the architect Ernő Goldfinger in what became known as the brutalist style of the late 1960s and early 1970s.It has appeared in numerous films, television programmes and pop videos.It was also the inspiration for JG Ballard's dystopian novel High Rise and featured in the Martin's Amis book London Fields.Source: BBC News

The flames from the flat fire are clearly visible. (Photo: Reanne Scott)

A huge fire at a Grade I listed stately home is being treated as suspicious.

Parnham House in Beaminster, Dorset, was badly damaged in the blaze early on Saturday. Police were called by the fire service at 4.10am to reports of a large fire at the 16th-century building.

“Officers are currently at the scene assisting with the fire service who are tackling the extensive blaze,” a spokeswoman for Dorset police said. “It is not believed anyone was inside the property and there are no reports of any injuries. At this stage the cause of the fire is unknown; however, police are treating it as suspicious and an investigation is under way.”

Craig Baker, the area manager for Dorset and Wiltshire fire service, tweeted that there were 20 pumps at the scene, as well as an aerial ladder platform and water carrier. Describing the fire as devastating, he praised firefighters for their efforts. Fire crews remained at the scene damping down on Saturday evening.

Parnham House is described as an “exceptionally important” mid 16th-century house by Historic England. It was built for Robert Strode and Elizabeth Hody in 1522 and renovated in the early 1800s. The furniture designer John Makepeace bought the property in 1976 and based his school for craftsmen in wood there. It was bought in 2001 by Michael and Emma Treichl, who carried out extensive renovations.

​DI Andrea Power, of Weymouth CID, said: “An investigation is currently under way to establish the cause and the circumstances around the blaze.​Source: The Guardian​Update 3 October 2017: An investigation into a blaze which gutted a 16th Century stately home has ended after the building's owner was found dead.Michael Treichl, 69, who owned Parnham House in Beaminster, Dorset, was arrested on suspicion of arson soon after the fire in April.He was found dead in Switzerland in June, Dorset Police said. The force said it had now ended its inquiry into the blaze and was not looking for any other suspects.

The fire raging at Parnham House (Credit: DWFRS)

13 April 2017 - Large building engulfed by flames in 'arson attack'

A derelict building burst into flames following a suspected arson attack. Firefighters were called to the former Butterley Works building on Coach Road, Ripley, at about 8pm last night. At one point, crews from Alfreton, Belper, Crich, Derby, Heanor and Ripley were at the scene tackling the severe fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

According to a Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman, the blaze is being treated as arson.The spokesman said the service was aware that children play in the area and that the Grade II listed building - which has lain derelict for many years - was a known problem. He added that the service was unable to attend other incidents across the county as a result of this severe fire, which also caused traffic problems on surrounding roads. Firefighters had left the scene by 11.30pm and crews will return to the site this morning to carry out an inspection.Source: Derbyshire Time

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze in Ripley

13 April 2017 - Fire crews battle major blaze at historic Grade II*listed New House Hall

Dozens of firefighters were scrambled to tackle a major fire at historic Grade II* listed New House Hall. Up to five engines raced to the hall in Sheepridge, Huddersfield, which dates back to 1550 is packed full of beautiful historic features, after it went up in flames this afternoon.

They spent two hours battling the blaze and trying to get it under control. At its height flames could be seen flickering through the windows. There were also five ambulances at the scene but crews said everyone escaped the hall unhurt.

The crews could be seen at the back of the building tackling the fire at the hall, which is right at the end of New House Road, continuing on from Bradley Boulevard. Pumps from Huddersfield, Mirfield, Rastrick, Cleckheaton and Halifax Fire Stations attended the fire, which looked as though it had gutted the roof of the building. New House Hall dates back to 1550 when it was built by Thomas Brook I - whose initials can still be seen carved into the fireplace.

Christoph Von Mickwitz, who currently lives at the house with his wife, said the mansion was gutted but he was relieved none of his family was hurt in the fire. Mr Von Mickwitz said: "I'm sad that the house is in a sad state; it was such a lovely house for Huddersfield. But no-one has been hurt and that's the main thing." He added: "My grandmother arrived from Germany with one suitcase and three children - and that's all they had - so it puts things in perspective."

The fire is thought to have started in a kitchen bin although the cause is under investigation. The Grade II* listed building is rich in history and beautiful original features that date back hundreds of years. Built over two storeys with attics, the planked double doors, staircase and moulded ceiling cornices featuring foliage, grapes and grotesques date back to the late 17th century. Rebuilding work in the left hand wing was completed in 1615 by Thomas Brooke IV and the right hand wing was rebuilt in 1865.Source: The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Fire at New House Hall, Sheepridge, fire crews takle the blaze at the historic hall.

12 April 2017 - Family forced from Bishops Cannings home by huge fireMore than 80 per cent of The Old Manor in Bishops Cannings has been destroyed due to a fire ravaging the thatched house over the night. The Grade II listed property which is in the village conservation area is of 17th century origin.

Crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service rushed to Chandlers Lane just after 9.20pm, with the roof of the house well alight. Nobody was injured from the blaze and fire crews did their best to salvage the family's possessions.

Kathy Collis, the firefighter leading the investigation, said: "The Sheppard family are shaken but are pretty pragmatic about it all. We believe the cause of the fire was accidental but our investigation is still ongoing. Some of the workers here have helped us to get some of their possessions, a great deal of which have been salvaged, to safety. We believe 80 per cent of it has been destroyed. The fire is out bar a few hot spots from the thatched roof. It has been all hands to the deck, having a good 11 crews here over the last 12 hours or so. Unfortunately the interior of the building is badly damaged and the roof is completely destroyed. We have had to use a great deal of water. We managed to contain it pretty well to just the old manor house. The family will be staying with nearby relatives for the time being."

The Manor House, which is understood to be owned by the Crown estate, is home to local farmer David Sheppard and his family. Mr Sheppard is well known in the village, where he is president of the cricket club.At the height of the blaze, there were 11 fire engines at the scene from Devizes (two), Calne, Melksham, Marlborough, Pewsey, Trowbridge (two), Chippenham (two) and Stratton.

Also there were the incident command vehicle from Devizes, an operational support unit from Swindon, and the emergency response volunteers from the British Red Cross, based at Swindon fire station. A building control officer from Wiltshire Council advised on the safety of the structure. As well as fighting the fire, crews were able to salvage many of the family's possessions, including a grandfather clock.​The incident was scaled back at around 2am to a three pump relief, with crews attending from Bradford on Avon, Warminster and Royal Wootton Bassett, and has since been scaled back even further to damping down. Corsham firefighters are currently at the scene tending to hot spots which are still smouldering. Source: Gazette & Herald

80 per cent of The Old Manor in Bishops Cannings has been destroyed due to a fire

12 April 2017 - Arsonists leave historic mansion gutted by fire

A historic Grade II listed mansion on the outskirts of Caernarfon has been gutted by fire started by arsonists.

Firefighters battled a blaze on the ground and first floor of Plas Ty Coch off the A487 for more than four hours this morning. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called about the fire at 6.37am and sent two crews, one from Menai Bridge and one from Caernarfon, to the scene. Firefighters used breathing apparatus inside the Grade-II listed building with very little damage apparent from the outside.

A spokeswoman for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the room of origin for the fire, on the ground floor, had suffered 80% fire damage and had suffered 60% fire damage to the first floor.

Plas Ty Coch was built in the early 19th century and has been empty for a number of years along with the nearby Plas Brereton.

The fire was started deliberately and a joint investigation by the fire service and North Wales Police is underway.Source: Wales Online

A historic row of houses were badly damaged by the huge explosion which rocked New Ferry on Saturday night. The houses, at 13-31 Boundary Road, in Port Sunlight, on the edge of the model village close to New Ferry, are all Grade II listed two-storey, three bedroom houses built between 1904 and 1905. The explosion caused physical damage to the properties in several different ways, including the blast wave, shock waves, fragmentation, vibration and the blast wind.

The explosion injured 34 people, destroyed a number of homes and left long-standing local businesses without premises. Witnesses described the scene as being “like a war zone”, with Wirral South MP Alison McGovern saying the consequences for New Ferry would be “devastating.” She added: “I was with some of those affected in the hours immediately after the blast, and will continue to offer support to them and all my constituents in the days and weeks ahead.” It is not yet know what caused the explosion. Merseyside Police confirmed a “multi-agency investigation” is now under way to establish the cause of the explosion. As well as police, this will involve Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Wirral Council, the Health and Safety Executive and National Grid. It was also revealed that engineers had been called out a day before the explosion after residents complained of a smell of gas in the area, but found no issues. The incident is ongoing.Source: Echo

Aerial footage of the New Ferry explosion site (Image: Stephen McMillan)

24 March 2017 - Fire damages Victoria Embankment bandstand

A fire in the early hours of this morning has damaged the bandstand at Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment.

Fire crews from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service were on the scene for six hours at the fire at the bandstand building in The Meadows area of Nottingham at 2.30am today (Friday, March 24). Four appliances were called from London Road, Highfields, and Stockhill. The fire had been extinguished by 8.45am.

Councillor Dave Trimble, from the Nottingham City Council , said: "The Grade II listed building is 80 years old and an iconic part of the park."​Nottinghamshire Police are at the scene with a cordon protecting the area as an investigation continues.Source West Bridgford WireSource: West Bridgford Wire​

The bandstand damaged by fire ( Picture: Nottingham Post)

15 March 2017 - A Victorian hall on the outskirts of Preston has been badly damaged by a major fire.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service say nearly a third of Alston Hall was affected by the fire.

The Grade II listed building near Grimsargh had up to 70 firefighters tackling the flames. Two aerial platforms were used to fight the blaze and water was pumped from a nearby pond.

No one has been hurt in the fire, which started around 10.40pm on Wednesday (15 March). An investigation is beginning during Thursday (16 March) morning to establish the cause of the fire.

One person was in the property when the fire broke out and hurt their ankle escaping the blaze. No one else was injured.

The hall was sold by Lancashire County Council last year to a private buyer who is in the process of converting it back to a residence.Source: Blog Preston

Firefighters tackling the blaze at Alston Hall

10 March 2017 - Fire at disused Colwyn Bay pier was accidentalA fire at a disused Grade II listed pier in Conwy county was accidental, the fire service has said.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze on Victoria Pier in Colwyn Bay started due to hot metal work being carried out by contractors.

About 10 firefighters used cherry pickers to reach the fire, which broke at about 16:30 BST on Friday 10th March. A crew remained on-site overnight as the tide restricted access and they could not be sure the fire was out.

Part of the 116-year-old structure, which was already closed to the public for safety reasons, collapsed into the sea last month. It was further hit by Storm Doris three weeks later. Work to demolish the damaged parts of the pier, which has been closed since 2008, began earlier this month. The remainder of the seaward section is to be redeveloped into a shortened boardwalk with plans to restore its 1930s Art Deco pavilion also being looked at.

Conwy council voted to demolish the structure in 2013 and a report at the time said restoring the pier would cost more than £15m. But demolition was refused by the Welsh Government in 2015.Source: Church & Heritage Buildings

Fire at Colwyn Bay Pier caused by contractors.

7 March 2017 - Firefighters feared massive blaze at derelict building would be 'another House of Lords'

Firefighters have warned that lives were put at risk after they had to spend almost four hours tackling an arson attack at a derelict building. Crews from Barrow and Ulverston were called to one of the old sandstone mansions in Buccleuch Dock Road on Barrow Island after a 999 call was made to report a fire at around 2.25pm last Tuesday. When the eight firefighters arrived, they discovered the fire was in the basement and realised they would need more help, and crews from Ulverston, Grange and Broughton were sent to the scene.

With smoke billowing out of all three storeys and the roof of the 19th century building, firefighters had to break in and negotiate a series of collapsed internal floors and rooms to get to the source of the fire. Station manager Paul Milburn, who was in charge on the day, said whoever started the fire not only put their own life and the lives of the firefighters at risk, but also placed the entire Barrow community in danger. "There were open voids throughout the building, it was smoke-logged and very difficult to see, the firefighters had to use a thermal imaging camera to make their way to the basement," he said. "Our firefighters had to put their own lives at risk to access the fire and whoever started it has not only put themselves in danger, but it was such a huge drain on resources, with up to 27 firefighters there, so we were tied to that job." Using an endless list of fire kit, including two engines, cutting equipment, ventilation fans, hose reel jets, main jets and thermal imaging cameras, backed up by sheer manpower, the crews brought the blaze under control by 6pm.

The sandstone mansion is understood to have been built around 1890 and, along with a second similar property on the same road, would have been built for a senior manager at the shipbuilding works. At the time they were built, the impressive properties overlooked the expansive Cavendish Park which included tennis courts and a cricket field. However, as the shipyard's footprint has expanded, the mansions are now hedged in on all sides by a heavily industrial area. Owned by a private businesswoman, who is understood to have plans to convert the buildings into accommodation, the Buccleuch Dock Road mansions will remain boarded up until they can be restored to their former glory. "It could easily have been another House of Lords," Mr Milburn said, referring to the devastating fire at the former working men's club in Abbey Road in January. "Barrow has a lot of old, derelict properties like this and they can seem very tempting to youngsters wanting to explore but they need to realise the hazards and dangers involved; this is something that needs to be tackled."Source: The Mail

Station manager Paul Milburn outside the fire-damaged building in Buccleuch Dock Road on Barrow Island

Crews from across West Yorkshire were drafted in to help tackle the fire at Grade IIlisted Cliff House, the site of the former all boys school in Fawcett Lane.

The initial call was received at 8.40pm and the first firefighters on site issued a priority assistance message for a eight further appliances to be dispatched. It took around three hours to bring the fire at the derelict building under control. Firefighters used breathing apparatus, hose reels, combined aerial platforms and ground monitors during the response and the gas & electric board were called out to switch off the power.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said this morning that one fire engine and an aerial platform had remained there throughout the night. An aerial platform will remain on site from 8am to monitor the situation until a fire officer visits the site to see if the incident can be closed. The school was in the middle of being refurbished when the blaze happened.

Cliff House dates from 1846 and is noted for its staircase and mosaic floor where it is said a famous racehorse is buried. Between 1966 and when it closed on the 31st August 1998 the building was known as Newcliffe House School, a Community Special School. Joseph Cliff was well known in Leeds for his business enterprises, and he was also a councillor for the Hunslet Ward. He was influential in establishing the Upper and Lower Wortley Cemetery and Chapel in Oldfield Lane.Walter Cliff offered land to the council to form Lower Wortley Recreation Ground (now Western Flatts Park) in 1902. His brother, Stephen, donated the house and grounds in 1929. The family believed in the creation of parks as beneficial to the health of work people.Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

Firefighters at the site of an old school in Leeds which was engulfed by a blaze last night. (Photo Mandie Maynard)

A derelict Grade II listed building has been destroyed after a blaze in Mettingham near Bungay this morning.

Fire crews from Norfolk and Suffolk were called shortly after 12.15am to Low Road where the Grade II-listed two-storey derelict building was on fire. Eleven units – four of which were from Norfolk and included relief teams – attended and spent more than two hours tackling the flames.​The flames had been brought under control shortly before 2.30am, with three fire engines remaining at the scene to carry out further work damping down the area.

A Suffolk Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed that no one was inside the building at the time and that no one was injured, but the building had been destroyed as a result. The spokeswoman added that it was too early to say what had caused the fire, but crews were continuing to investigate.Source: East Anglian Daily Times

A grade II listed building on Low Road, Mettingham has been damaged by fire. Picture: Nick Butcher

15 February 2017 - Kelsale Hall fire: Manor house lost in large blaze

A Grade II listed building has been ravaged by a fire.

Crews were called to Kelsale Hall, a 19th Century manor house near Saxmundham, Suffolk, at 17:45 GMT on Wednesday. It is thought the blaze started in a tumble dryer and spread through the house, destroying most of the building. The property was occupied at the time but those inside managed to escape and there were no reports of any injuries, the fire service said.

Thirty-five response vehicles and 80 firefighters were called out to deal with the fire at its height. Ian Bowell from Suffolk Fire and Rescue said: "Whilst I say it was a tumble dryer, I think we should allow the investigation to completely exhaust all other options. But early indications yes, it was a tumble dryer seen to be alight. It's certainly not being treated as a suspicious fire but it is early stages of the investigation."

The fire service said, due to the construction of the building, the fire spread through the voids into the basement and up two storeys to the roof. Firefighters used water from a nearby pond and a hydrant supply on the A12 to tackle the flames. "It was totally unsafe to go in there," Mr Bowell added. "It's a sad loss and we haven't been able to save as much as we would like. But given the circumstances, we've done our best."​Source: BBC News

Intense fire at Kelsale Hall (Credit: Suffolk Fire and Rescue)

12 February 2017 - Huge fire at Church of Ascension in Salford is visible across the city

Firefighters are battling a huge blaze which has engulfed a church in Salford.Flames took hold of the Church of Ascension in Lower Broughton on Sunday night. Photographs on social media show the fire tearing through the building, which sits on Ascension Road, beside Green Grosvenor Park and near River View Primary School. Six fire crews were called to the Church of Ascension in Lower Broughton at 11.08pm on Sunday night.The church is a Grade II listed building and still used as a place of worship. It had undergone £250,000 worth of restoration work over recent years, has now has almost completely been destroyed in the fire.The devastating fire at The Church of Ascension in Salford is being treated by police as arson.A full criminal investigation is set to be launched. A witness said he saw youths riding away from the building ahead of the fire breaking out. Source: Manchester Evening News

The Church of the Ascension, Salford is gutted by fire.

11 February 2017 - A Burning Question: Why So Many Mill Fires?

2016 seems to have been a particularly bad year for fires in the historic textile mills of northern England. The year started with the destruction of Drummond Mill in Manningham in Bradford, in January. This was followed by a series of mill fires in Greater Manchester, most notably the destruction of Bailey Mill in Saddleworth in June. The empty Newsome Mill, in Huddersfield was burnt down in suspicious circumstances on November 18 2016 as was Howard Mill in Glossop, Derbyshire, that month. The year finished with a devastating fire at Maple Mill No. 1, in Oldham, on 15 December 2016, which destroyed the structure. This has now been confirmed as arson by Greater Manchester Police. These fires all have two things in common. The structures were large and empty cotton or spinning mill blocks, and all the fires appear to have the result of arson.

Textile mill design developed in part to reduce the risk of fire from the grease, oil and fibers that covered each mill floor. This can be seen in the shift from wooden floors supported by wooden beams to brick-barrel vaulting supported by cast-iron columns and then steel frame and concrete construction. Even so, no mill is absolutely fire-proof. Although the building materials used may themselves not be flamable a hot enough fire will affect the structure and ultimately bring it down. Cast iron will fail catastrophically, particularly if cold water is played on it when hot, whilst steel will ultimately distort under high heat. Even brick arches will fail if intense heat loosens the bricks.

Historically, catastrophic mill fires were not uncommon in the working mills of Derbyshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. Vernon Mill in Stockport burnt down in 1902, as did Ellenroad mill in 1916. Both fires were found to have been started by friction in the spinning mule headstocks. Fires in working mills continued into the mid-20th century despite new fire regulations: spectacularly so at Clover Mill in Rochdale in 1952, Texas Mill in Ashton-under-Lyne in 1971, and at Thorp Street Silk Mill in Macclesfield in 1977. In the late 20th century, as most cotton, jute, linen, silk and woollen mills were closed, there was an increasing trend for fires in empty factories. Dramatic examples include Tudor Mill in Ashton-under-Lyne (1970), Banksfield Mill in Bolton in 1984, Granville Mill in Oldham in 1999. This trend has continued into the early 21st century, with the loss of several listed early textile mills at Clegg Hall Mill in Rochdale in 2003, Paton’s Mill in Jonhston, Renfrewshire, in 2010 and Frost’s Mill in Macclesfield in 2011.What is worrying has been the rising number of arson attacks in the last few years. A recent freedom of information request to the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed that there were 103 mill fires in the Bradford area over a six year period between April 2010 and September 2016. 58 were found to be arson attacks, of which 36 were in mills classified as derelict or empty. Some of these fires can be attributed to rough sleepers lighting afire to keep warm but others are deliberate attempts to burn the structure.

Similar figures are not available for Greater Manchester, though the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services’ website notes at least 28 major mill incidents between 2010 and 2016. Several empty mills have become a focus for repeated arson, such as Elisabeth Mill in Stockport (now renovated), the derelict Gidlow Mill in Wigan, and Maple No. 1 Mill in Oldham. The latter appears to have had six arson incidents in 2016 which culminated in the destructive fire of December 2016.

There remain two stark facts that threaten much of our textile mill heritage across Britain. Firstly, that the huge block spinning mills of the late 19th century, which can be seen in the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire urban landscapes, are still perceived by some councils and developers as difficult to re-use. The second is that empty industrial buildings attract vandalism leaving them open to constant small-scale arson incidents that can lead to catastrophic fires. This is why Historic England have been working with the all five fire and rescue services in North West England to compile advice and create an ‘Arson Risk Reduction’ leaflet for Heritage at Risk across the whole region and due for release this spring. This work has shown that the best way to reduce fire attacks is to keep textile mills occupied, the sprinkler systems maintained, and to reduce the time such structures are empty ahead of redevelopment: simple steps that could help to save more of these important industrial monuments.Source: Archaeologyuos

Drummond Mills in Manningham, Bradford. The first mill to fall victim to fire in 2016

3 February 2017 - Fire rips through former Southwick bingo hall and auction house

Firefighters in Sunderland are still tackling a huge blaze that has destroyed a historic building in Southwick.

The former bingo hall, furniture shop and auction house has been on fire since approximately 5.30pm on Friday and part of the burning roof has fallen into the road.

No-one is believed to have been injured in the fire, but firefighters are expected to be working late into the night to put out the blaze. Some 12 fire engines attended the scene of the fire and are trying to get the blaze under control using seven hose reels. The police explained: “The fire was reported to us at 5.45pm but we don’t know the cause of the fire at this time.”

Businessman Gareth Carr ran his auction house from the premises until Friday, when he moved out. Speaking of his devastation at the fire, Mr Carr said: “I’ve been the tenant in the building for the past year and a half and we vacated the building earlier on Friday after ongoing disputes with the landlord." Mr Carr said he went home at 4pm and later heard the building was up in flames. “I’m totally devastated," he said. "There was about £10,000-worth of stuff inside, including clients’ property, that is completely unsalvageable. We don’t have contents insurance, so that’s a big loss and we’ll get no monetary gain from it. We just hope to find the people responsible.”

Police were called to the property where the fire is now raging earlier in the day, it emerged. They said the shop was boarded up but there were men inside shouting and swearing.

​Update 5 February 2017: A former Sunderland bingo hall has now almost been completely demolished two days after it was ravaged by a fire.Demolition teams have been working over the weekend after more than 50 firefighters tackled Friday’s overnight blaze at the historic building on The Green in Southwick, Sunderland .Police have confirmed a man and women have been arrested in relation to the incident.Source: Chronicle Live

27 January 2017 - Forty firefighters called to major pub blaze in ChorleyMore than 40 firefighters tackled a major fire at a Grade II listed Chorley pub after flames were spotted bursting from its windows. Five fire engines from across the county rushed to The George pub on St Thomas Road at around 8.10am this morning, say fire services.

Crews were alerted to the blaze by 999 calls from concerned passers-by who spotted flames bursting from the lower storey of the unoccupied building. Police and fire services closed St Thomas Road, Crown Street, Union Street and the one way system onto Market Street for most of the day. According to Lancashire Fire and Rescue, firefighters arrived to find the ground floor of the pub "well alight" and the other two floors "heavily smoke logged".

Crew Manager Ian Turnbull said: "Water jets were placed around the property to extinguish the blaze and stop it from spreading to neighbouring properties. The fire was brought under control at around 9.30am and firefighters spent the rest of the day damping down the fire to ensure it did not re-ignite. The property was badly fire damaged and it will be quite some time before the property is back in use."

At its height eight fire engines from across the North West attended the blaze.Nobody was injured during the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.Update: 11 August 2017: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Richard Edney said that an investigation which followed the incident showed that the fire was accidental and was not deliberately started. It was caused by embers from the fire dropping beneath the floor and then igniting,” he said. It is extremely rare and there was nothing that the owner could have done unless he would have been aware of the issue. It’s almost a faulty design with these old style fires. No one could have seen it coming.”Source: Lancashire Evening Post

The George pub in Chorley is on fire

11 January 2017 - Listed Barrow pub Lord's Tavern engulfed by blaze

A listed building may have to be demolished after it was badly damaged in a blaze. Homes were evacuated when the fire broke out at the former Lord's Tavern in Barrow, Cumbria, on Wednesday night.

More than 70 fire fighters tackled the blaze at its height. The cause is being jointly investigated by police and fire officers.

The three-storey building in Abbey Road was built in 1871 and was one of the area's first workingmen's clubs. The former pub - known locally as the House of Lords - has also been used as a library. It was given Grade II listed status in 1976 and now faces being demolished.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: "Initially two engines were dispatched, but on arrival crews were faced with a severe fire that had already engulfed most of the building. The building has suffered partial collapse. This was a large and complex fire that required a significant and sustained response from us and colleagues from Lancashire. Thankfully it appears no-one has been hurt and we will now begin investigation work to determine the cause."​Source: BBC News

The gutted remains of Lord's Tavern, Barrow in Furness

9 January 2017 - Historic hall targeted by arsonists.

A historic church hall that was targeted by arsonists was sold to a property developer last year, it has been revealed.

Deane Parish Church Memorial Hall, in Junction Road, Deane, was damaged in the fire last week.The fire service believes the blaze was started intentionally after someone broke in through a window and set furniture alight on Tuesday, January 9. The hall has been out of use since around 2013 and was sold by the Diocese of Manchester last year.

Records from the Land Registry show that the hall and the land it is on was bought by Fortune Properties (UK) Ltd on March 27 2017 for £95,000. The company is based in Abbey House, in Lever Street, Bolton, and is listed on Companies House as a renter and operator of housing association real estate. It is not clear what the intended purpose of the site is but following the purchase, representatives of Fortune Properties erected signs on the hall warning people the building is dangerous and to keep out.

The hall was first opened in 1934 in memory of those who fought during the First World War.In the late nineties the hall started to suffer ‘quite severe problems’, the church website reads and a prop was installed in the kitchen to hold the roof up and several cracks started to appear at the south end of the building. There was attempts to make the building usable but in 2011 part of the ceiling collapsed and it was forced to close.

Beccy Clarke, manager of the church’s office, said: “It doesn’t actually belong to the diocese anymore. It was sold to a property developer about 12 months ago.”Firefighters were called to the blaze in the early hours of the morning and three fire engines attended.​There was a smell of smoke in the air and residents living nearby needed to move their vehicles from the car park so the blaze could be tackled. The interior of the building, including roof supports was made of wood, meaning the fire was difficult to tackle.Source: The Bolton News